Windmill.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

J. J, MGLEAN.

WINDMILL.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 1e, 190s.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

N0 MODEL.

/NVENTOH ejjrZ-d?? ATTORNEYS Wl TNESSES.'

No. 766,648. PATENTED AUG. z, 1904. J. J. MGLEAN.

` WINDMILL. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 16, 1903.

H0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTOH/VE YS.

No. 766,648. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

J. J. MOLBAN.

WINDMILL.

APPLIUATION FILED nu 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

N0. 766,648. PATENTED AUG. z, 1904. J. J. MOLBAN.

WINDMILL.

APPLIUATION FILED nu 1a, moa.

H0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A TTOHNE YS.

NiTsn STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

JOHN JAMES MCLEAN, OFFIOOSE JAlV, CANADA.

WlNDNlILL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 766,648, dated. August 2, 1904.

Application filed May 16,1903.

T (all 107mm/ it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, J oHN J AMES HCLEAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Moose Jaw, Assiniboia Wlffest, Nortli-lVest 'sl`erritories, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and Improved Vindmill, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in windmills, and has for its object to render the construction of such devices more simple, durable, economic, and effective than ordinarily and to provide a means whereby when the windmill is not in use the wind-wheel will be housed and perfectly protected and whereby more or less wind may be directed to the wheel as occasion may require.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a horizontally-supported wind-wheel and a vane in automatic operative connection with the wind-wheel, acting' always to keep the blades of the wheel perfectly facing' the wind, which blades are a fixture in the construction of the wind-wheel.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved windmill. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the windmill, the wind-wheel being' shown in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan View, the top or cover being removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken practically on theline L et of Fig'. 9. Fig. is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5 of Fig. 8. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the improved windmill. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the vane. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken practically on the line b 8 of Fig. 9; and Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation through the windmill, showing particularly the mechanism for operating the door in the casing, which door regulates the opening in the casing through which the wind enters to the wind-wheel.

A represents standards which form the main Serial No. 157,383. i110 model.)

frame of the windmill, and these standards, as shown, are four in number, at equal distances apart, being of any suitable length and properly anchored. These standards are connected at the top by cross-beams a, running' at right angles to each other, as is best shown in Fig. 3. A shaft C is mounted to turn in the central portion of the said frame. This shaft may be in one or in more sections, as may be desired. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the said shaft at its upper portion is mounted to turn in a collar 10, fixed in the cross-beams ,where they intersect, and above this collar 10 a circular block 11 is secured to the shaft C, rollerbearings intervening the collar and the block. Above the said block 11, which is a bearingblocl: to be hereinafter particularly described, a bearing-plate 12 is located on the said shaft C, roller-bearings intervening these two parts, the said bearing-plate 12 being held in position by one or more nuts 13, screwed upon the shaft, as is also shown in Fig. 5.

At a suitable distance below the upper crossbars (L a wind-wheel B is secured to the shaft C, being' adapted to turn the said shaft bythe action of the wind. This wind-wheel B consists of an upper ring 14 and a lower ring 15, made of any suitable material, and a cylindrical body 16, which extends some distancel beyond the said shaft C, and is secured to the upper and lower rings 14 and 15 by means of vertical braces 17, located preferably at the inside of the tubular or cylindrical body-section 16 of the wind-wheel. A hub-sleeve 18 receives the said shaft C and constitutes the central portion of the wind-wheel B, being secured to the said shaft by set-screws 19, bolts, rivets, or their equivalents. Preferably, howover, screws are employed, so that the windwheel may be readily shifted on the shaft C when occasion may demand. At the upper and lower ends of the hub-sleeve 18 a collar 2O is screwed or otherwise secured, and the collars are held in position by suitable nuts Q1, asis shown in Fig. 5, the nuts being screwed upon the extreme outer end portions of the hub-sleeve 18.

Horizontal arms 22 are made to radiate from the collars 20, and these arms pass out through the tubular body 16, and at the outer face of IOO horizontal extensions 23, which are at an ob tuse angle to the main arms 22 within the tubular body B, as is particularly shown in Fig. 4, and the outer ends of the extensions 23 from the upper and lower arms 22 are bolted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower rings or rims 14 and 15, forming practically the peripheral portion of the frame of the wind-wheel B. The vertical braces 17, heretofore referred, to are secured by bolts or similar means to corresponding upper and lower main arms 22, as is also shown in Fig. 5. The blades of the wind-wheel are preferably of sheet metal, although other material may be employed. These blades extend vertically of the wind-wheel and are secured in any suitable or approved manner to corresponding and opposing upper and lower extensions 23 from the main arms 22, as is also particularly shown in Fig. 4. Thus it will be observed that the blades of the wind-wheel are at an obtuse angle to the central or tubular body portion or'section 16 of the wheel and extend from said tubular body-section 16 out to the rims of the wheel. In order that the wheel may be strengthened and that 'a suitable support shall be provided for the upper and lower rims or rings 14 and 15, substantially V-shaped braces 25 are employed, which at one end are secured to the lower main arms 22 at a point preferably within the circular or tubular body-section 16 of the wheel, and the said braces 25 are then carried upward and bent upon themselves to form a bearing engaging with the under face of the upper ring or rim 14, as is also particularly shown in Fig. 5, and then each brace is carried downward and is bolted or otherwise secured to the upper face of the lower rim or ring of the said wheel.

The wind-wheel B is located within a casing D, which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the wheel B and extends both above and below the said wheel. This casing D consists of an upper ring or rim 27 and a lower ring or rim 28 of corresponding diameter. The upper ring or rim 27 isattached to a collar 29a, loosely mounted on the shaft C by means of spokes or rods 29, suitably secured to the collarand to the ring or rim 27, as is best shown in Fig. 5, and the lower ring or rim 28 of the casing D is secured also by spokes or rods 30 to a lower collar 30, also loosely mounted on the said shaft C.

A cylindrical body 31 is attached to the upper and the lower rings or rims 27 and 28 in any approved manner, and in this cylindrical body 31 an opening 32 is made, as is best shown in Fig. 4. This opening 32 is adapted to be closed when desired by a door or gate 33, which doorA or gate when closed over the opening 32 constitutes practically a continua-y tion of the cylindrical body 31. This door or gate 33 is arranged to slide toward uprights 34, extending from the bottom ring 28 to the upperring 27, being secured to the said rings in any suitable or approved manner, and be-' tween each pair of uprights 34 upper and lower, preferably grooved, rollers 35 are mounted to turn. The upper and lower edges of the said door 33 engage with the said friction-rollers 35. These roller-bearing standards 34 are arranged at predetermined intervals apart. In Fig. 4 four of such standards are shown; but their number may be increased or decreased, as desired. In order to render the casing D as strong as possible, braces 36 are attached to the upper and lower rings 27 and 28 outside of the body 31, as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

The upper ring or rim 27 of the casing D is provided with exteriorly-located teeth 37, and just below the lower ring or rim 28 brackets 38 are secured to the posts or standards A. Each bracket 38 is provided with a horizontally-located friction-roller 39 and a vertically-located friction-roller 40, the said rollers being so disposed that the lower ring or rim 28 will restv upon the horizontal rollers 39, and the said outer edge of the said lower rim or ring 28 will have bearing against the vertically-disposed friction-rollers 40, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 5, thus enabling the casing D to turn with the least possible amount of friction.

The casing D is turned by pinions 41, which engage with the teeth 37v on the upper ring or rim 27. These pinions 4l are secured to vertical spindles 42, and the spindles 42 are held to turn in bearings 43, which bearings are at the outer ends of socket-plates 44, located at the ends of the Lipper beams a, the ends of which beams extend a predetermined distance beyond the outer side surface of the said casing D, as isl illustrated in Fig. 3.

At the upper end of each spindle 42 a second pinion 45 is secured, and these upper pinions 45 engage with teeth 46, formed at the outer face of a ring 47, located above the crossbeams t and adapted to travel in engagement with friction-rollers 47,secured to said beams, as is shown in Fig. 5. Spokes or rods 48 extend from the said ring 47 and are secured to the bearing-block 11, mounted to turn at the upper portion of the said shaft C, as is shown in Figs. 5 and 9.

A beam 49 is secured to the upper portion of the upper ring 47, and the said beam eX- tends, as is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, `6, and 9, out beyond the standards or uprights A a predetermined distance. A vane 51 is secured lin any suitable or approved manner to the projecting end of the said beam 49, and this beam extends out through a cover 52, preferably of conical formation. The said cover is attached to the said beam 49 and to the upper ring 47 in any suitable or approved manner, and'braces v50 are attached to the upper portion of the beam 49 and to the said cap or cover 52. Furthermore, braces 53 are attached to the vane 51near the top and near the bottom, and these braces are also suitably secured to the upper surface of the cap or cover 52, as is shown in Figs. l and 6.

I n the operation of the windmill it may be desired that the surplus wind may be quickly discharged therefrom. To that end I have made openings in the said cap or cover 52, and these openings are normally closed by hing'ed doors 54, which may be raised and lowered in any suitable or approved manner. A bracket 55, having' an upwardly-turned free end, is mounted to turn on the shaft C ata point below the casing D, as is shown in Fig. 9, being' held in position by a collar 56 attached to the said shaft. A spindle l is mounted to turn in the horizontal portion of the bracket and in a lower bracket 55, the said spindle being provided with acrank-section 57"l at its lower portion within easy reach of the ground, so that the said spindle 57 may be readily turned when desiredi A horizontal shaft 58 is journaled in the upturned portion of the bracket 55 and in a suitable bearing in the lower ring 2S of the casing D, as is also shown in Fig'. 9, and this shaft 58 at its inner end is provided with a beveled pinion 5S), which meshes with a similar pinion 6() at the upper end of the spindle 57. Near the outer end of the shaft 58 two drums 61 and 62 are located quite close toO'ether. A cord, rope, or chain 63 is carried from the drum 62, around which it is adapted to be wound, through suitable guides in the double uprights 34, the said cord, rope, or cable being' secured at its opposite end to one end of the door 33, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the end of the door to which the rope, chain, or cable 63 is secured being' that end which is adapted to open out from the cylindrical body 3l of the said casing, and a second rope, chain, or cable 64 is attached to and is adapted to be wound upon the drum 6l. This second rope, chain, or cable 64, as is also shown in dotted lines in Fig'. 4, is carried around the casing in an opposite direction to the cable, rope, or chain throug'h g'uides 66 and is likewise attached to what may be termed the forward27 edge of the said door 33 for the casing D, so that by turning the shaft 57 in one direction the door is opened to uncover the openingl 32 to the desired extent, thus permitting' more or less air to have access to the blades of the wind-wheel B, or, if desired, by turning the shaft 57 in the opposite direction the said opening in the casing may be entirely closed, thus stopping the action of the windwheel B.

A windmill constructed as above set forth is exceedingly simple and is perfectly reliable and when not in use the wind-wheel is thoroughly protected, as the casingD may be completely closed. The vane 51 operates automatically to cause the opening' 32 to face the wind, as the wind striking the vane 5l will cause the cap or cover 52 to revolve, and consequently the upper ring 47, and as this upper ring 47 revolves through the medium of the pinions 45 and 41 a corresponding rotary movement is imparted to the casing D by reason of the lower pinions 41 meshing' with the teeth 37 on the upper ring or rim 27 of the casing.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-u l. In a windmill, a casing having' an opening in one side, a wind-wheel mounted in the casing, a sliding' door for closing the opening of the casing, a horizontal shaft provided with a pinion at one end, drums on the shaft, ropes wound on the drums in opposite directions and connected with opposite ends of the door, and a vertical shaft provided at its upper end with a pinion meshing with the pinion of the horizontal shaft, and at its lower end with means for operating it, as set forth.

2. In a windmill, a frame, a casing having vroller-support in the frame and mounted to revolve, a shaft loosely passed through the casing, a wind-wheel having fixed blades at an obtuse angle to its center', which wind-wheel is secured to the shaft and has movement independent of the casing, a movable cap or cover supported by the shaft, a vane secured to the cap or cover, anda gear connection between the casing and the cap or cover.

3. In a windmill, a frame, a casing having roller-support in the frame and mounted to revolve, a shaft loosely passed through the casing, a wind-wheel having fixed blades at an obtuse angle to its center, which wind-wheel is secured to the shaft and has movement independent of the casing, a movable cap or cover supported by the shaft, a vane secured to the cap or cover and a gear connection between the casing andthe cap or cover, a door for the easing, mounted to slide therein, gearconnected shafts, drums upon one of the said shafts, cables attached to the drums, wound thereon in opposite directions. and guides for the cables located within the casing,the said eables extending in opposite directions to a connection with the Sallie end of the door, as described.

4. In a windmill, a frame, a shaft mounted to revolve in the frame, a wind-wheel secured to the said shaft, comprising an upper and a lower rim, a cylindrical body centrally located, arms extending from the central portion of the wind-wheel radially through its body portion and at an obtuse angle out beyond the body portion, the said arms being' attached to the said rims at their outer ends, blades fixed to opposing' angular portions of the corresponding arms, said blades extending from the said body of the wheel to the rims thereof, and braces located at the outside of the said blades, extending' from one rim of the wheel to the other, as set forth.

IOO

IIO

5. In a windmill, a frame, a shaft mounted to revolve in the frame, awind-wheel secured to the said shaft, comprising an upper and a lower rim, a cylindrical body centrally located, arms extending from the central portionof the wind-wheel radially through its body portion and at an obtuse angle out beyond the body portion, the said arms being attached to the said rims at their outer ends, blades fixed to opposing angular portions of the corresponding arms, said blades extending from the said body of the wheel to the rims thereof, and braces located at the outside of the said blades, extending from one rim of the wheel to the other, a casing adapted to revolve independently around the said wheel, having an opening therein, a door adapted to cover and uncover the said opening, and means, substantially as shown and described, for opening and closing the said door, as specified.

6. In a windmill, the combination with a frame, a shaft mounted to turn in the said frame, a wind-wheel horizontally located and consisting of a hub-sleeve secured to the shaft, a cylindrical body around the hub-sleeve, upper and lower rims, arms extending from the top to the bottom of the hub-sleeve radially therefrom and through the said cylindrical body, the said arms after passing the said body being carried at an obtuse angle in the same direction from the said shaft and secured at their outer ends to the said rims, blades secured to the angular portions of verticallyopposing arms, and braces connecting the said rims, of a casing provided with an opening in one side, a door having sliding and guidedl movement in the casing to cover and uncover the said opening, means for operating the said door, a vane, and a connection between the said vane and the said casing, whereby the casing is turned by the said vane independently of the movement of the wind-wheel, as described.

7. In a Windmill, the combination with a frame, a shaft mounted to turn in the said frame, a wind-wheel horizontally located and consisting of a hub-sleeve secured to the shaft, a cylindrical body around the hub-sleeve, upper and lower rims, arms extending from the top to the bottom of the hub-sleeve radially therefrom and through the said cylindrical body, the said arms after passing the said lbody being carried at an obtuse angle in the same direction from the said shaft and secured at their outer ends to the said rims, blades se- 'cured to the angular portions of yverticallyopposing arms, and braces connectmg the. said lformed at the periphery of the upper rim, a

cap or cover mounted to turn looselyon the said shaft, a gear connection between the cap or cover and the upper rim of the casing, and a vane secured to the said cover, as set forth.

8. In a windmill, the combination with a frame, a shaft mounted to turn in the said frame, a wind-wheel horizontally located and consisting of a hub-sleeve secured to the shaft, a cylindrical body around the hub-sleeve, vupper and lower rims, arms extending from the top to the bottom of the hub-sleeve radially therefrom and through the said cylindrical body, the said arms after passing the said body being carried at an obtuse angle in the same direction from the said shaft and secu red at their outer ends to the said rims, blades secured to the angular portions of verticallyopposing arms, and braces connecting the said rims, of a casing surrounding the wind-wheel, a roller-support for the casing comprising upper and lower rims, a cylindrical body connected with the rims and having-an opening therein, a door adapted to cover and uncover the said opening in the casing, means for operating the said door, teeth formed at the periphery of the upper rim, a cap or cover mounted to turn loosely on the said shaft, a gear connection between the cap or cover and the upper rimof the casing, a vane secured to the said cover, doors mounted upon the cap or cover, adapte-d to normally close openings in the said cover, roller-supports for the 'door of the said casing, and braces connected with the vane and with the cap or cover, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a windmill, a frame, a revoluble casing mounted in the frame, a wind-wheel mounted in the casing, a revoluble cap or cover mounted on the wheel-shaft above the casing, a vane secured to the cap or cover, and means for revolving the casing from the cap or cover, as set forth.

l0. In a windmill, a frame, a revoluble casing in the frame, a wind-wheel mounted in the casing, a cap or cover on the shaft of wind-wheel, avane secured to the cap or cover, and gearing between the cap or cover and casing, as set forth.

1l. In a wind-wheel, a frame, a revoluble casing in the frame and having an annular peripheral rack, a wind-wheel in the casing, a cap or cover xedly secured to the upper end of the wind-wheel shaft, a vane on the cap or cover, an annular rack on the said cap or cover, and a vertical shaft provided at its ends with pinions engaging the racks of the casing and cap or cover, as set forth.

lool

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J @HN JAMES MOLEAN.

Witnesses:

W. GRAYsoN, W. E. YSEABORN. 

